Posted: 5/13/2023 1:11:04 PM EDT
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We have 13 open slots for former or currently serving military personnel at the MSNG Youth Challenge Academy at Camp Shelby, MS. It’s a paramilitary developmental leadership program for at-risk teenagers, designed to provide structure and guidance on the path to a GED, skilled trades careers and/or college. Here’s the link if you know anyone who might be interested: YCA Application Process |
The Harmony of the Pen and the Sword
https://theacunicorn.com/blog/
https://theacunicorn.com/blog/
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They're always hiring. I get a text from my old boss about once a month, asking if I'm ready to go back to work. The program is always hard up for people because, quite frankly, some of the people who come on board aren't really good mentor material, and they are woefully unprepared to deal with the kind of teenagers Mississippi is producing now. These kids come from a variety of backgrounds, from successful high schoolers looking to start college early, to hard-luck cases getting their last chance at a GED or trade certificate. The majority turn out to be decent kids, just in very severe need of good guidance and mentorship, which is where the cadre comes in. I worked there for a year and a half while I was on the bench for my current overseas contract, and while there were days I dreaded going to work, I'm not gonna lie, I will never regret working with those kids. These boys have been failed at every level by every formative influencer in their entire short lives, and they're practically feral when we get them. After a few weeks of a rather adventurous "teething period," they generally settle into the routine, which is modeled after a basic training style environment, intended to develop good habits, discipline and a better way of solving problems that much of what they were exposed to during their upbringing. I used to lead physical training every day, and this is a good way to burn off all that adolescent energy with a well-organized "daily dozen" consisting of the classic Army fitness program. Incentivizing these kids works better than crushing them, and they have to be able to see what's in it for themselves, even if they don't fully understand it at first. The key is being switched on and engaging them on their level. One way that I found to do that was by hitting up Operation paperback for donations of used books, which I would place in the common areas. I was surprised by the number of kids who would take the books and read them, and I hope they stick with it as they move on with their lives after graduation. Knowledge truly is power! There's a lot more to the job than just herding cats, and I won't say it's easy by any stretch, but of all the jobs I ever had, this one was a golden opportunity to make a difference in a meaningful and hopefully lasting way. If you're retired or still in the Guard or Reserves, or have some military or teaching experience, check the program out and consider stepping up to the plate. There's not a lot of places out there where a fellow can make a real and immediate difference in the life of a hard-luck kid, but the Mississippi Youth Challange Program is one of them. |
Whatever happens, we have got, the Maxim gun and they have not.